Preventing Tooth Decay in Young Children

Topic Overview

Tooth decay, called dental
caries, is caused by bacteria eating away the outer
protective layer (enamel) of a tooth. Help prevent tooth decay in young
children by adopting the following healthy habits:

Teach your child to brush and floss every day. Clean your baby's gums with a soft cloth or gauze pad to remove plaque before the first teeth come in. When your child's first teeth come in, clean his or her teeth with a soft toothbrush. And use a very small amount (a smear) of fluoride toothpaste. When your child is age 2 years, it's okay to start using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Start flossing your child's teeth when he or she has teeth that touch each other. For more information, see the topic Brushing and Flossing a Child's Teeth.

Take good care of your own teeth and gums. Saliva
contains bacteria that cause tooth decay. Keep your own teeth and mouth healthy
so you are less likely to transfer these bacteria to your baby. Avoid sharing
spoons and other utensils with your baby. Also, don't "clean" your baby's
pacifier with your mouth.

Be smart about juice. Juice is not part of a healthy diet. Compared to a piece of fruit, fruit juice doesn't have the valuable
fiber, it usually has more calories, and it is absorbed differently. Unless the label says that a fruit drink is 100% juice, beware that many fruit drinks are just water, a little juice flavoring, and a lot of added sugar. If you must give juice, water it down. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises no more than 4 fl oz (120 mL) to 6 fl oz (180 mL) of 100% fruit juice a day for children 1 to 6 years old.footnote 1 This means ½ cup to ¾ cup.

Introduce cups for drinking beverages at age 12 months or earlier. By this age, frequent bottle-feedings, especially with
juice or other high-sugar liquids, make a child more likely to develop tooth
decay. At night,
you could fill the bottle with plain water. During the day, offer an empty cup
for your child to play with. For more information, see the topic
Weaning.

Provide your older baby or toddler with healthy foods. Give your child
nutritious foods, and combine them in ways that help
reduce the risk for tooth decay. For example, offer meals that include whole
grains, vegetables, and fruits. Mozzarella and other cheeses, yogurt, and milk
are good for teeth and make great after-meal snacks. They help clear the mouth
of harmful sugars and protect against
plaque. Make an effort to rinse or brush your child's
teeth after he or she eats high-sugar foods, especially sticky, sweet foods
like raisins.

Normal amounts of fluoride added to public water supplies and bottled water are safe for children and adults. If your child needs extra fluoride, your dentist may recommend a supplement or a gel or varnish that he or she would apply to your child's teeth. Use supplements only as directed. And keep them out of reach of your child. Too much fluoride can be toxic and can stain a child's teeth.

Related Information

References

Citations

Committee on Nutrition, American Academy of Pediatrics (2001, reaffirmed 2006). The use and misuse of fruit juice in pediatrics. Pediatrics, 107(5): 1210–1213. Also available online: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/107/5/1210.full.

Committee on Nutrition, American Academy of Pediatrics (2001, reaffirmed 2006). The use and misuse of fruit juice in pediatrics. Pediatrics, 107(5): 1210–1213. Also available online: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/107/5/1210.full.

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